Tethered ball game device



May 25, 1948. s, LANG 2,442,296

TE'IHERED BALL GAME DEVICE Filed Oct. 30, 1946 JW/ 772504 5627/ [any @74 W wzeyf Patented May 25,, 1948 UNI T E D S TATES 2,442,296

' TETHEREDBALL. DEVICE Sandy Lang, Ghicago; Ill.

Application-Gotcha 30, IMGQSerial 110,706,681

Glaims. (cam -9a My invention relates to a toy having two cups with aball attached therebetween, so that skill may be employed to move theball from one cup and catch it in the other cup, and then from thesecond cup to the first cup, and so on as long as desired.

It is among the objects of my invention to teach pressure, movement. aimand patience to a user and to provide a toy which will furnishamusement, rhythm, poise and increased confidence with resultant successto the player. My invention also contemplates such other objects,advantages, and capabilities as will later more fully appear and whichare inherently possessed by my invention.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodimentof my invention, yet it is to be understood that the same is susceptibleof modification and change without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the toyembodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of my toy withmovements indicated in dotted lines and Fig. 3 is a top perspective viewof my toy.

The embodiment selected to illustrate my invention comprises anelongated base i having an outer portion II and an opposite inner handleportion |e2. Adjacent the end of outer portion I is attached cup l3.Inwardly from cup l3, spring board 4 has its inner portion attached toouter portion H of base In. A block I5 is attached to outer portionsomewhat nearer the center of base H). The upper surface N3 of block I5is inclined diagonally upwardly and supports a portion of spring board Mto which it is attached. Spring board 14 continues past block |5 at adiagonally upward angle to a free upper end Slightly below end cup I8 isattached to spring board M.

A cord I9 is attached on one end to spring board M at 20, which is halfway between cups 3 and I8. The other end of cord I9 is attached to ball2| at its middle inner portion.

Each of cups l3 and I8 has a built up bottom 22 and an opening 23slightly larger than the diameter of ball 2|.

Free end I! of spring board l4 ends sufiiciently short of the inner endof handle portion l2 of base I0 so that a player can grasp the end ofhandle portion l2 in his hand and place his thumb on free end Cord I9 isof such length as to just permit ball 2| to reach and lie in either ofcups l3 and I8.

When ball 2| is in either cup l3 or l8, cord I9 is V taut.

Let usassume ball 2| is in cup IS. The player presses down with histhumb on free end I! of spring board I4 and lets go. If the pressure hasbeen correctly applied and the aim of the player is true, ball 2| willtravel to and lodge in cup 3. The player then throws upwardly on handleI 2 and if properly done, the force will throw the ball back into cupI8. This is repeated and provides a rhythmic series of sounds as well assuccessful moves and catches.

The force exerted in impelling ball 2| in either direction must besufficient to cause ball 2| to move rapidly from one cup upwardly and inthe direction of the other cup. Centrifugal force then causes ball 2| tomove in an are from one cup to the other, with cord l9 remaining taut.The arc of movement has as its ends cups I3 and I8, its center point 20,and its radius cord 9. If the amount of force is sufiicient and itsdirection in the line of base ID, the ball will not fail to move fromone cup to the other.

In returning ball 2| from cup I3 to cup l8, the resilience of springboard l4 might cause ball 2| to become dislodged after it has enteredthe cup. This can be avoided if the operator depresses free upper end I!of spring board M with his thumb, thus lessening the resilience andpreventing the ball from bouncing out of cup I8.

Having thus described by invention, I claim:

1. A toy comprising an elongated base having an outer portion and anopposite handle portion, a base cup attached to said outer portionadjacent the end thereof, a spring board attached to said outer portioninwardly from said cup, a block attached to said base and supportingsaid spring board at a diagonally upwardly extending angle, said springboard having an outer free end, spaced above and shorter than saidhandle portion, a spring board cup attached to said free end, a cordattached on one end to said spring board half way between said cups, anda ball attached to the other end of said cord, said cord of only such alength as to permit said ball to reach either of said cups, and saidcups of such size as to receive and permit removal of said ball, saidspring board adapted upon pressure to move said ball from the springboard cup to the base cup, and said handle adapted upon force beingapplied to return said ball from said base cup to said. spring board cupsaid ball adapted upon continued reciprocation between said cups "toproduce with said cups a rhythmic series of sounds.

2. A toy comprising a base, a spring board mounted on said base, a cupattached to the outer portions of each of said base and spring board, acord having one end anchored half way between said cups, a ball attachedto the outer end of said cord, said cord of only such a length as topermit said ball to reach either of said cups, and said cups of suchsize as to receive and permit removal of said ball, said spring boardadapted upon pressure to move said ball from the spring board cup to thebase cup, and said base adapted upon force being applied to return saidball from said base cup to said spring board cup.

3. A toy comprising a base, a spring board mounted on said base, theouter portions of each of said base and spring board having ballreceiving means, a cord having one end anchored half way between saidreceiving means, a ball attached to the outer end of said cord, saidcord of only such a length as to permit said ball to 20 2,181,236

reach either of said receiving means, and said receiving means of suchsize as to receive and permit removal of said ball, said spring boardadapted upon pressure to move said ball from the spring board receivingmeans to the base receiving means and said base adapted upon force beingapplied to return said ball from said base receiving means to saidspring board receiving means.

' SANDY LANG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Wright Jan. 20, 1925 Klaus Mar. 6, 1928Irwin Nov. 28, 1939 Number

